Hope's Kitchen 2012 fundraiser tops $7,000

The annual Hope’s Kitchen fundraising effort topped $7,000 thanks to a final week of strong support from the community toward the local soup kitchen.

The final dollars counted after Thursday afternoon’s deadline showed $7,106 raised so far. Last year’s drive closed just over $8,000, but donations received after the deadline pushed the total over $10,000.

Hope’s Kitchen operates out space provided by Mary Immaculate Catholic Church and serves more than 200 meals every third and fourth Saturday from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., in addition to delivering meals to homebound and disabled residents.

All donations must received thus far will appear in a giant Christmas card in the Dec. 23 issue of the Daily Express and the Kirksville Crier on Dec. 26.